City Spotlight: Menard
Menard exists along the blurry line between the Hill Country and West Texas. It’s a sleepy small town in all the best ways, but an exciting, almost mystical property keeps the town bustling with life. Legend has it that this has to do with the San Saba River, which runs right through the heart of Menard. According to the locals, if you drink from the San Saba, you’ll find yourself enchanted by its waters and feel the urge to return to Menard for the rest of your life.
Yes, I drank from the San Saba on my day trip, and yes, I feel Menard calling me back all the time. I’ll let you decide whether that’s a supernatural calling. Because it very well could be just that Menard is simply an enchanting little town all on its own. If you visit Menard, drink from the San Saba at your own discretion as it is a natural source that hasn’t been purified.
The Menard That Could Have Been
If the Spanish settlers had had any say in it, Menard might be bigger than San Antonio is today. The town’s history goes all the way back to the 1750s when the Spanish — who already had a stronghold in San Antonio — wanted to push deeper north into the heart of Texas. So, between 1757 and 1761, they established their largest mission in all of Texas, the Presidio de San Saba. Within a matter of months, however, the settlers found their mission bombarded over and over by the local Comanche Tribes. Over the next decade, the Spaniards held their ground as best they could, but the Comanche forces (armed with French weapons) were too strong for them. By the early 1770s, the Spanish were forced to admit defeat, abandon the mission, and retreat to San Antonio.
The ruins of the mission and presidio sat around on the frontier until the next group of settlers used the stones from the presidio’s walls to build the first homes and structures of modern-day Menard in 1858. The Presidio de San Saba was reconstructed in 1936 and is now an awesome (and free) historic site to visit while you’re in Menard.
Texas history buffs also need to check out Fort McKavett while in the area. The fort was set up by the U.S. Army about 100 years after the Spanish had failed to conquer the lands of Menard. Besides being a quintessential “Wild West” fort, Fort McKavett is best known for being home to the most famous regiments of buffalo soldiers, the freed enslaved people who served in the Army and defended pioneers on the Western frontier. In fact, the first African American soldier ever to receive the Medal of Honor (Sgt. Emanuel Stance) received it for his service at Fort McKavett. The fort isn’t completely reconstructed, but it’s pretty close and makes for a very cool and enlightening field trip.
Must-Sees in Menard
OK, let’s get into Menard proper. Like I said, Menard may be a sleepy little town, but there are some really great restaurants with incredible stories here. Be sure to visit Texas Scratch Kitchen, a French bakery owned and run by three teenage sisters. When I was in Menard, they were only 19, 17, and 15 years old. Although their parents are Menard natives, the girls actually grew up in England. But when mystical Menard called their family home, the girls missed all the European bakeries and goodies they grew up with — so they started making their own. I kid you not, these ladies bake some of the best sweets and breads in all of Texas
Another great restaurant you must check out is the husband-and-wife-owned Summerland Public House. The wife is originally from Menard and her husband was a prominent chef in Boston, but once he got a taste of the San Saba River, he decided he could never leave his wife’s hometown. Now they make incredible hand-tossed pizzas, smashburgers, and breakfast foods. And since he’s a chef, he’s known around town for hosting impressive culinary events. Sometimes, he does seated dinners with bigwig chefs; other times, he flies in fresh lobster from Boston — you never know what will be on the menu. The night I was there, he had me eating fresh oysters. I wouldn’t recommend that in West Texas anywhere but Summerland.
Between meals, you’ve got to see the San Saba River, which runs right through Menard. There are lots of spots in town to jump in, go swimming or fishing, and pick up pecan shells along its banks. If you’re really in a swimming mood, drive 10 minutes west from Menard to a spot on the San Saba that’s known locally as the 8 Mile watering hole or the Hillbilly Hot Tub. It’s this awesome little horseshoe-shaped watering hole that locals love to hang out and cool off in. It’s also a great spot to sip the water and start planning your inevitable return to Menard!
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